Apparatus for handling strands



Oct. 24, 1939. E. E. NEwToN Er AL APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRANDSOriginal Filed Dec. 22, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l 0t 24, 1939 E. E. NEWTONET AL n APPARATUS FOR HANIDLING STRANDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original FiledDec. 22, 1932 I :.'n #1w "'l 5MM -l Ffa@ Cet. 24, 1939. E E, NEWTON ETAL 2,177,373

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H. PRA Y Afro/wn APPARATUS FR HANDLING STRANDS Edwin E. Newton,Montreal, Quebec, and Hugh P. Ray, Mount Royal, Quebec, Canada,assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Original application December 22, 1932, SerialNo. 648,414. Divided and this application January 14, 1936, Serial No.59,062

s claims'.

This invention relates to an apparatus for handling strands, and moreparticularly to wire handling apparatus, and this application is adivision of our copending application Serial No.

Fig. 11 is a sectional plan view of another section of the take-up unittaken on the line lI-II of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of a portion of 648,414, filed December22, 1932. the take-up unit taken on the line l2|2 of 5 The invention isparticularly applicable to an I Fg- 2, and apparatus wherein wire isdrawn from a supply Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary SeCtiOIlel spool,an enameling compound is applied a plu- View taken on line |3--l3 ofFig. 11. rality of times and the wire is drawn through a Referring tothe drawings, there is shown in baking oven a corresponding number oftimes Fig. 1 a Wire enameling apparatus which com- 10 to harden theenamel coatings, after which the prises, in general. an enamel CoatingUnit l5 and 'enameled wire passes over a capstan which draws a Wiretake-up unit I6.

it at the desired speed through the apparatus The enamel coating unit l5iS fully described and from which it passes to a take-up spool andclaimed in our copending application above 15 An object of the inventionis to provide an im referred to. It is believed suflicient to statehere- 15 proved apparatus for handling Strands, in that this unitcomprises a framework desig- In accordance with one embodiment of theinnated generally at which supports an oven vennen wires te be enameledare supplied te an 2l, a plurality 0f supply spool brackets 22. anenameling apparatus from a plurality of supply equal number of U-shapedguide hooks 23, an

20 spools mounted on vertical axes and carried by equal number of idlersheaves 24, an equal num- 20 a common vertically supporting framework.The ber of independently rotatable multiple grooved wires are led bysuitable guide means to idler pulleys below the oven 2|, an equal numbersheaves, around lower rotatable multiple grooved 0f independentlyrotatable multiple glOOVed pulleys, across the face of a pad saturatedwith pulleys 29 above the oven, an enamel applicator 25 an enamelingcompound, through a baking oven pad designated generally at 30, anenameling 25 Where the coatings of enamel are baked on the compoundsupply tank 3|, an enameling comwire, around upper rotatable multiplegrooved pound drainage tank 32, an enameling compound pulleys, and overa capstan to a plurality of takepump 33, a temperature indicating device35, a up spools, upon which they are Wound. Individtemperature controldevice 36, an exhaust hoodv 30 ual friction drives which are designed toallow 3l, an exhaust condenser 38, an exhaust manom- 30 for thedifference in elTective diameter between eter 39 and an exhaust damper40. an empty spool and a full spool are employed to The supply spoolbrackets 22 (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 rotate the take-up spools. and 7) Whichsupport the supply spools 42 are Other objects and advantages of theinvention mounted in two columns on the framework 2li Will more fullyappear from the following deat the inner end of the enamel coating unitl5 35. tailed description and accompanying drawings, on one side of theoven 2l so that the axes of in which: the spools in each column are in acommon Fig. 1 is a side elevation of aWire enameling vertical plane.Each of the supply spool brackapparatus embodying the invention; ets 22includes a drum 43 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) upon 40 Fig. 2 is an elevation ofthe inner end. of the which the supply spool 42 is mounted. The drum 40take-up unit taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; 43 is mounted on avertical stud shaft 44 which Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partially insecshaft is journalled in a housing 45 on an arm tion, of a supply spoolholder; 46 pivoted at 47. This construction permits Fig. 4 is a planView of the supply spool holder; movement 0f the Supply SDOOI drum 43and the Fig. 5 is an elevational View of the friction spool 42 from thenormal position shown in full 45 driving device for the supply spoolpartially in lines in Fig. 4 to the position shown in dottedcross-section; lines at the left of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan View partially in section of the To prevent the supplyspools 42 from overrunguide hook and idler sheave employed with the ningsuitable friction means are provided. These 50 supply spool; frictionmeans comprise a pliable felt friction 50 Fig. 7 is an elevation of theinner end of the ring 49 which bears on the lower surface of the strandcoating unit taken on the line 'l-'l of drum 43, a stationary metallicfriction ring 5!) Fig. 1; l f which bears against the lower surface ofthe felt Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the frictionring 49, and a spring ring 5l which bears take-up unit takenon the line8 8 of Fig. 1; against the lower surface of the metallic ring 5U. 55

' Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of`r aportion of The metallic ring 50and spring ring 5l are slidthe take-up unit taken on the line 9--9 ofFig.V 8; ably keyed on the housing 45 to prevent the rota- Fig. 10 is asectional elevation of a portion of tion of these two rings with respectto the housthe take-up unit taken on the line Ill-|501 ing 45. Anadjusting screw 53 is provided so Fig. 8; I I f -l' Y that the pressureof a bifurcated lever 54 against 60 ly large diameter and preferablymade of anY aluminum alloy. The pulleys 25 are independently rotatableon a shaft 56 mounted in a rotatable frame 51. The multiple groovedpulleys 29 at the upper end of the enamel coating unit are also of arelatively large diameter and preferably made of an aluminum alloy. Thepulleys 29 are independently rotatable on a shaft 59 mounted in a fixedframe 88. The xed frame 60 is supported by the framework 20 and therotatable frame 51 is fulcrumed on pad brackets 62 by means of two pivotscrews 83.

An adjusting screw 04 mounted in one of the pad brackets 62 controls theposition of the `rotatable frame 51 and the pulleys thereon to the rightor left as viewed in Fig. 1. Two wing screws are provided to lock therotatable frame 51 in its desired position. This adjustment permitsvarying the pressure of the wires 19 on the pad 30, which in practicewill vary from practically no pressure to about 25 ounces, depending onthe size of the wire being enameled.

Each of the pulleys 25 and 29 are provided with a plurality ofperipheral grooves, one for each pass of wire, as additional coats ofenamel are applied. The diameter of the peripheral grooves in each ofthe pulleys 25 and 29 are slightly larger '1n order of sequence of theportions of wires 10 passing over them.

The guide hooks 23 and idler sheaves 2l4 are mounted on the framework 20and are arranged to guide the wires from the supply spools 42transversely behind and out of engagement with the vertical movingportions of the wires 10.

A glass bar 1| (Figs. 1 and '7) is provided above the guide hooks 23 toprevent the portions of the wires 19 which are moving downward on theoutside of the oven 2| from vibrating to an extent which would permitthem tocomein contact with the outer wall of the oven 2|.

The take-up unit I6 comprises a box shaped base 12 which supports amotor 13, motor speed control means comprising a rheostat 14, and moto-rswitching means 15, a speed indicating device 18, a traverse frame 11having a plurality of traverse guide pulleys 18 therein, and an equalnumber of frictional drives 19 for take-up spools 80 and a capstan 8|.Frame 28 and box shaped base 12 mutually support and are connected by aplatform 83 and a pair of braces 84. A mandrel 85, supported by the pairof braces 84, has a plurality of peripheral grooves equal in number tothe number o-f pulleys 29 and is adapted to form a member to which looseends of wire may be attached when threading the wires 10 through themachine or when one of the wires breaks during the operation of themachine.

The traverse frame 11 comprises a lower horizontal member, an upperhorizontal member and substantially vertical side members connecting thehorizontal members, the guide pulleys 18 being secured to the sidemembers.

The capstan 8l comprises a steel cylinder of large diameter with a thicksoft rubber coverwhich provides sufficient friction to prevent slippingof the wires 10 by merely `passing them over the top.

'Ihe base 12 houses the vertical motor 13, motor switch 15 and rheostat14 for controlling the motor speed. On the produced axis of the motorshaft and driven at the motor speed are two shafts 82 (Figs. 8, 11 and12) and 86 (Fig. 12). The shaft 82 is flexibly coupled to the motor 13and extends to the height of the compartment or box 81. The shaft 82 iscoupled at its upper eX- tremity to the shaft 86 which latter shaftextends to a capstan housing 88 (Fig. 1) within which housing suitablegearing is provided to drive the capstan 8|. The shaft 89 is housed in atube 89 (Figs. 1 and 12).

Suitable gearing, indicated generally at 69 (Fig. 12) is provided in thebox o-r compartment 81 to drive the speed indicating device 16 fromshaft 82.

In the lower portion of the compartment or box 81, a sleeve 90 (Fig. 8)houses a pawl 9| which engages with the right'and left hand screw of anon-rotatable traverse bar 92. The sleeve 90 is driven from the shaft 82through a worm 93, a worm gear and sleeve integral therewith 94, gearsand 96, shaft 91, change gears 98 and 99, a shaft and bevel pinion |80integral therewith,

bevel gear |8| and a spring pin |02. If the pawl 9| becomes jammed on adiamond point of the right and left hand screw of the traverse bar 92,the torque of the bevel gear |0| will overcome the pressure of a spring|04 causing the spring pin |02 to recede from a drilled spot recess inbevel gear |0|, which permits the bevel gear |0| to rotate withoutintroducing dangerous stresses in any of the parts. The pitch of thetraverse mechanism, to accommodate the Ydifferent sizes of wires beingcoated, is changed by changing change gears V98 ,and 99.

One end of the traverse bar 92 is connected to one arm of a bifurcatedlever |09 (Figs. 8 and 10) by means of a screw |01 .and-a square block|98 which is assembled in a slot in the arm of the lever |06. Themovement of the traverse bar 92 in and out,.as viewed in Fig. 10,imparts first a clockwise and then a counterclockwise motion to avertical bar ||0 which is secured to the bifurcated lever |06 bymeansrof a taper pin The upper arm of the bifurcated lever |06 isfastened to the bottom of the traverse` frame 11 (Fig. 10)

through a square block |2 and a stud l I3 secured i to the traverseframe 11 and imparts an oscillatory motion to the traverse frame 11. Thebar ||0 imparts the same motionto the top of the traverse frame 11through a single lever I5 (Figs.

8 and 10), a square block ||6 and a stud ||1.

Suitable guides |8 and |9'(Figs. 2 and 11) at the top and bottomrespectively of box 81 maintain Ya straight line motionof the traverseframe 11 as it oscillates. Y

Threaded into the frame 11 (Fig. 11) and eX- tendingV through aplurality of flat springsv |20 are a plurality of adjusting screws |22on eachv of which is rotatably mounted a sheave 18. The adjusting screws|22 are set to bring the sheaves 18 into correct registry with thetake-up spools 80 so that the wires 10 may be laid evenly on the takeupspools 80. The fiat springs |20 impart pressure endwise of the screws|22 to preserve their adjustments. Y

Pinned to the vertical shaft 82V (Fig..11) are a plurality of spiralAgears |25 meshing with an equal number of spiral gears |28 which aresecured to an equalnumber of horizontal shafts |21. 'I'hefriction'drives 19 aresecured to each end of the shafts |21 and each isconstructed as jection diametrically opposite to the cylindricalprojection surrounds the ring |33. A fulcrum screw |33 extends throughand is secured in a projection from the compartment or box 81. The screw|33 extends into the cylindrical projection of the ring shaped yoke I3I. A double collar screw |34 is assembled in the forked projection ofthe yoke |3I and is threaded into the compartment or box 81. Two pivotscrews |35 are secured in the ring portion of the yoke I3| on a diameternormal to the plane of the axis of shaft |21 and screws |33 and |34. Thepivot screws |35 pivot in diametrically opposite holes in the ring |39.When the screw |34 is turned, the ring shaped yoke I3| is rocked aboutthe fulcrum screw |33 and by means of the pivot screws I 35, ring |39,and ball bearing' |29, a movement is imparted to the sleeve |28longitudinally to the shaft |21.

A soft felt friction ring |36 is secured to a metal ring |31 which ringI31is slidably mounted on sleeve |28 by means of .three headed pins |38.A corrugated spring ring |39 is located between ring |31 and sleeve |28and surrounds the three pins |38. A bracket |40 is secured to theprojection from the compartment or box 85 and houses a shaft |4I havingits axis in line with shaft |21. A friction disc |42 is secured to theinner end of the shaft |4I, and a spool holder |43 is secured to theother end of the shaft |4|. When the yoke I 3| is rocked toward thetake-up spool 89 the sleeve |28 slides in the same direction andcompresses the spring ring |39. This increases the pressure between thedriving friction ring |36 and the driven friction disc |42. The drivingfriction ring |35 is rotated at all times a little faster than the'maximum desired speed for the spool 89 and driven disc |42 but therotation of the spool is retarded by the tension of the wire 10 betweenthe capstan 8| and the spool 80. Therefore, re-

- gardless of the diameter of the spooledy wire upon Y as is permittedby the delivery of wire from ther rof the spool drum the spool 8|),V thespool 8|) will rotate only as fast capstan 8| and the tension in thewire 1l! is regulated by the pressure between the friction surfaces. Therotation of the spool 80 may be stopped by disengaging the frictionsurfaces.

The spool holder |43 is formed from a sheet of spring steel and has abody in the shape of a ring with six equally spaced radial armsextending therefrom. Three alternate arms extend outward and are formedto have an embossment on the end thereof as shown at |44 and the otherthree extend inward and are formed to have a shoulder on the end thereofas shown at |45. 'I'he sheet steel from which the spool holder |43 isformed is of suicient thickness to insure proper spring in the arms |44to permit sliding a take-up spool 8|) over the embossments at the end ofthe arms |44, and when the spool 80 is in its normal position againstthe shoulder of the arm |45 to provide sufficient spring pressureagainst the inside of the take-up spool 8-9 to drive it. f

The machine as disclosed is capable of simulwire 10. In the operation ofthe machine each of the wires 18 to be coated is fed from a supply spool42 and passes in an approximately horizontal direction through aU-shaped guide hook 23 and over an idler sheave 24, downward to thegroove on the left side of a rotatable multiple grooved pulley 25 andaround the pulley, upward through the oven 2| to the groove on the leftside of a rotatable multiple grooved pulley 29 and around the pulley,downward on the outside of the oven 2| to the next groove in the pulley25 and around the pulley, upward in contact with the saturated face ofthe pad 30 (to receive the first coat of enamel), through the oven(where the enamel coating just applied is thoroughly baked onto thewire) to the next groove in pulley 29, from which the wire 19 passesseveral more times around the pulleys 25 and 29, contacts with the pad3|) and passes through the oven 2 I.

After the last pass of the wire 19 passes through the oven, the wire 19passes over the groove on the right side of pulley 29 and in anapproximately horizontal direction, under the mandrel 85 to the rubbercovered capstan 8|, over the capstan SI and downward over a guide pulley18 to a take-up spool 80.

The tension on the wire 19 is controlled by regulating the adjustingscrew 53 which controls the friction on the supply spool 42 and byregulating the adjusting screw |34 which controls the friction on thedrive 19 of the take-up spool 89. The desired pitch of the traverseframe 11 is obtained by inserting the proper change gears 93 and 99. Themotor 13 is started by operation of the starting button 15 and its speedadjusted by the control rheostat 14. The motor 13 drives the capstan 8|and oscillates the traverse frame 11 causing the wires 13 to be drawnthrough the apparatus.

While the invention has been described with special reference to theembodiment illustrated herein, it is to be understood that variousmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofapplicants invention, the scope of which is defined by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a strand handling apparatus, a reel mounting comprising asupporting member, a pivoted member carried by the supporting member, astud shaft carried by the pivoted member and adapted to receive a reel,and frictional means `comprising a felt ring, a metallic ring land anadjustable spring ring opposing the rotation of the stud shaft.

2. In a strand handling apparatus, a pivotal support, a reel supportingmember rotatable in a free end of the support, and frictional meansopposing the rotation of the member, said means comprising a felt ringcoaxial with the reel supporting member and -a spring ring yieldablypressing the felt ring against a surface of said member.

3. In a strand handling apparatus, a reel mounting comprising a pivotalsupport, a rotatable reel supporting member mounted in the free end ofsaid support, and frictional means opposing the rotation of said member,said means comprising a felt ring coaxial with the member, a spring ringyieldably pressing the felt ring against a surface of said member, and ametallic ring between the felt ring and the spring ring.

EDWIN E. NEWTON. HUGH P. RAY.

